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2023 FIBA World Cup Predictions

The FIBA World Cup is the most prestigious international basketball competition. In 2023, 32 teams will battle in a tournament that will take place in three countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Japan) and five cities.

The USA, Slovenia, France, Serbia, Australia, and Spain are set to create some memorable clashes. To help you avoid doing any research, we release FIBA World Cup predictions daily. You can find tips on all matches every day, as well as ante-post predictions on tournament and group winners.

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Basketball World Cup predictions for today

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Pick

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Disclaimer

We collect the highest prices straight from all reliable and leading bookmakers. Then, we deliver average market odds next to each released pick.
We don’t provide odds feed now, but we plan to add it to our services shortly.
The bookmakers presenting next to the odds don’t mean they offer these prices. They are our recommended online betting sites, as we have ranked them; you can find valuable promos before placing your bets just with one click.
We post the status for all daily betting tips (win, lose, void).

When Do We Post Our Basketball World Cup Predictions

Betting on the WC is relatively easy, especially in the 1st Round. The team disparity is too big, and favourites tend to win comfortably. However, the odds are not very lucrative. This is why we examine a variety of markets during our bookmaker predictions.

Since the tournament is in East Asia, the first games take place early in the morning for European residents. Therefore, we publish some of our basketball World Cup predictions the night before. On the other hand, for games that are scheduled for later, our tips are released on the same day.

We want to post them as close as possible to account for unknown parameters such as injuries or bans. Moreover, we do not only back the favourites but instead have a long checklist before making any decisions. It includes the following:

✔️ Roster: This is something you should wait for before placing any outright wagers. Most teams’ rosters are announced close to the tournament because many players are unsure if they will participate. For example, Greek star Giannis Antentokounmpo is battling injuries. If he is not 100%, the Milwaukee Bucks will not allow him to travel and play.

✔️ Form: It’s not only the form leading up to the tournament but also how the teams perform once it starts. After all, most players will have to adjust to the time difference, so the first games might not be too great. You are better off waiting to see 1-2 matches from each team.

✔️ Injuries: Again, the analysis is two-fold. Firstly, we examine which notable players will miss the event due to injury. Then, our FIBA World Cup betting tips will look at players who picked up an injury during a match, even if they continue playing. Imagine Luka Doncic having a bruised thumb; he might still play, but he will not be 100% to help his team.

✔️ Odds Movement: Bookmakers will constantly adjust the odds based on how many people back a team to win. We always compare the early to the later prices to follow the consensus. Having said that, we do not follow the betting community blindly but rather observe and wait for profitable opportunities.

✔️ Fatigue: This is a tournament where most teams will play every other day, especially during the last rounds. Having a big rotation or even a few hours of extra rest means a nation has more room to battle tiredness and be fresh for the next challenge.

Outright FIBA World Cup Predictions

If you are an early bird and want to take advantage of the odds before the event starts, then you should look at the antepost market. As we draw closer, bookmakers will release more FIBA World Cup Odds.

Starting off, you can always find prices for the outright or group winner. If you are new to basketball and don’t know where to start, not to worry. Below, we have outlined a list of our top predictions for the 2023 edition.

FIBA World Cup Betting on the Winner

The clear and undisputed favourite to bring home the gold is the USA. Unlike last time, it will travel with a well-balanced roster. Even though no superstars have agreed to join the team, other notable players, mainly Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram, and Jaren Jackson Jr, will feature in the event.

Nevertheless, basketball World Cup betting on the Americans will not yield huge profits. As a reference, if you bet $1,000 on them, you only stand to win a total of $1,700. It is just not worth it. This is why you should examine alternatives. Below, we have outlined two tips on dark horses that are bound to do well.

Outright Winner ⏩ Serbia @8.00

Serbia will have a relatively simple path to the gold medal match, assuming they take care of business early on. If they top group B, they will most likely be in a group with Italy, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. While Italy eliminated them in the Eurobasket of 2022, we expect them to prevail in the 2nd Round as well.

If the US also tops their two groups, Serbia can only face them in the final. To be fair, everything will depend on the status of Center superstar Nikola Jokic. He had a deep playoff run in the NBA after winning the title with the Denver Nuggets. This means he hasn’t had much time to rest and prepare, so it is unclear if he will participate.

Each Way Winner ⏩ Australia @11.00

Australia is one of the most exciting young teams in the World Cup. Its roster contains some great NBA stars, including Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, and Joe Ingles. They managed to reach the semis in the 2019 edition, and it is certain that no one wants to face Australia in an elimination match.

The problem with Australia is that their path to the final will not be very comfortable. They will definitely have to face Luka Doncic’s Slovenia in the 2nd Round. They will face Spain or France in the Quarter Finals if they don't retain the top place. Nevertheless, they have the manpower to overcome any challenge, including the US national team.

List of Previous Winners

When you are looking to pick a team to back to win the whole thing, it is always advisable to take a look at the previous competitions. It can show you which countries tend to do better than others. You can also find valuable data that can help you with alternative markets, such as finishing in the Top 4 or Winning a Medal.

Year	1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
2019	Spain	Argentina	France	Australia
2014	USA	Serbia	France	Lithuania
2010	USA	Turkey	Lithuania	Serbia
2006	Spain	Greece	USA	Argentina
2002	Yugoslavia	Argentina	Germany	New Zealand
1998	Yugoslavia	Russia	USA	Greece
1994	USA	Russia	Croatia	Greece
1990	Yugoslavia	Soviet Union	USA	Puerto Rico
1986	USA	Soviet Union	Yugoslavia	Brazil
1982	Soviet Union	USA	Yugoslavia	Spain

Group FIBA World Cup Betting Tips

Apart from betting on the tournament winner, most sportsbooks will give you several other options. One of them is to predict which team will top each group. The problem here is that in the first round, there are a lot of teams with a huge advantage over their rivals.

For example, Slovenia was drawn against Georgia, Venezuela, and Cape Verde, none of which should pose any serious threats. Basketball bookmakers are well aware of that. This is why they have set very low odds for most groups. Nevertheless, there are some that the situation is not very clear.

After analysing each separately, we have decided on the two basketball World Cup predictions below:

Group D Winner ⏩ Montenegro @5.00 (+400)

Even though Lithuania is the favourite to take first place, several of its stars, namely Domantas Sabonis, have announced that they will not participate in the tournament. On the other hand, Montenegro’s roster contains players like Vucevic, Perry, Radenbaugh, and Dubljevic, who have a lot of experience in the NBA and the Euroleague. They can cause an upset.

Group H Winner ⏩ Canada @2.10 (+110)

Perhaps the most difficult group to predict since it contains both France and Canada. While the Europeans are the slim favourites, we firmly believe that the North Americans have a better chance to prevail.

Up-and-coming superstar Victor Wenbanyama and NBA MVP Joel Embiid have already withdrawn. On the Canadian side, the final roster is still unclear but will definitely feature several NBA stars.

Best 2023 FIBA World Cup Bets

Picking the match winner is not the only available option when it comes to the basketball World Cup. Most online bookmakers will provide you with an abundance of basketball betting markets. However, not all of them are worth your while. Let’s see at some of the most common FIBA World Cup bets:

⏩ Moneyline: This is the most straightforward option to grasp. You only have to pick which team will win the game, including overtime. Of course, there is a clear favourite in several matches, and the odds will reflect that.

⏩ Totals: Here, you must predict how many points will be scored in the game. This includes the whole match, an individual quarter, or one of the two halves. It does not stop there, as many bookmakers will also offer lines on other stats, such as rebounds, assists, and turnovers.

⏩ Handicaps: Basketball is a sport where the disparity among teams is too great to overcome sometimes. As a way to remove that obstacle, bookmakers have introduced the Handicap market as a way to balance the scales. For example, it will be easy for the US to beat Jordan. However, you can bet on them to win by -28.5 points, which will offer odds close to even.

⏩ Points Range: Alternatively to Handicaps, although a lot harder, is the Points Range market. Essentially, you must predict how much the final difference between the teams will be. There are usually several tiers to choose from, such as 3-way, 7-way, and 11-way. The more tiers, the tougher it is to predict.

⏩ Race to X Points: This is a fun wager where you back which team will score a certain amount of points first. For example, you can bet on the Philippines to reach 20 points first against Italy. The odds are always better on the underdogs, but the hosts can take advantage of the home court and start the game with more energy.

⏩ Anteposts: As the days pass, you will find more and more outright bets. Besides the aforementioned gold medal or group winner, you can bet on a team to qualify for the 2nd Round to reach the Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, or Final.

⏩ Prop Bets: Player Specials are tied to individual statistics. You can bet on a player’s Points, Rebounds, Assists, Turnovers, 3s, and more.

Past Trends to Remember

Many bettors wonder whether looking at past trends is worth it. The answer is yes. Stats from previous tournaments can offer you an insight into how well (or not so well) the teams tend to perform.

While you should not base your whole FIBA World Cup betting strategy on them, you should always keep in mind what has occurred. After all, you pretty much see the same ones finishing in the top four spots, with some rare exceptions. Below, you can find some of the most notable trends.

1
Since 1967, only European or NA teams have won 3
2
The USA and Spain won 2/4 last. The USA is tied with Yugoslavia for most ever with 5
3
A host has only won on 3 occasions (1950 - Argentina, 1963 - Brazil, 1970 - Yugoslavia)
4
No winner from Asia or Africa. Egypt was the highest-ever place (5th - 1950)
5
Italy has not made it into the semi-finals since 1978
6
France has reached the semi-finals back to back
7
The US was eliminated in the QF in 2 out of the last 10 events

Best Promos for Basketball World Cup Betting

The FIBA WC is one of the most prominent international competitions in terms of betting interest. After all, the sport itself is popular worldwide. Online bookmakers are well aware of this fact and do whatever they can to attract more players. High odds and a wide range of markets are obviously, welcome.

However, nothing compares to the excitement of claiming a promotion and playing with free money. As the World Cup draws closer and starts, you will come across an array of daily promos, such as Welcome Bonuses, Free Bets, Enhanced Odds Offers on the top matches, ACCA Boosts, and more. Underneath, you can find a shortlist of the best promotions available today.